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Once placed in the tombs of kings in ancient Egypt, watermelons still rank highest with most melon eaters. Of all the melons, they produce the biggest fruit on the longest vines. Watermelons need three or four months of truly warm weather to set fruit, and each plant can be expected to produce two to four melons in a season. When fruits fail to appear although the plant seems healthy, faulty pollination is usually the culprit.

Male and Female Flowers

Watermelon plants bear both male and female flowers, which are pollinated by bees. The male flowers bloom first, but you must wait for the female flowers to bring the tiny fruits at the end of their blossoms. So if you are concerned because no fruits are visible with the first blooming, nothing may be amiss. It is just not yet time for the fruit.

Pollination Problems

Since pollination depends on the insects visiting both male and female flowers, success is a matter of timing. If you experience a delay in the setting of fruit, sufficient numbers of pollinators may not be available to complete the task. Often, low bee activity is due to the weather not being warm enough or the use of insecticides. You can compensate for this by hand pollinating. For best results, collect male flowers between 6 and 9 a.m. and gently rub the anthers onto the stigmas of the female flowers. You may also transfer the pollen using a slender artist's paintbrush.

Plant Spacing

When watermelon plants produce mostly foliage and few fruits, they are likely spaced too close to the next vine. Space plants at the recommended distance, eight to 12 inches apart. If grown too close together or too far apart, plants may yield fewer melons as a result of poor pollination. Unlike other watermelons, seedless varieties do not produce both male and female flowers and need a seeded type nearby to facilitate pollination, or they will not bear fruit.

Basic Needs Not Met

For successful watermelon cultivation, several conditions need to be present. A site with full sun exposure is critical, as well as a long enough warm season, as mentioned. Provide plenty of air circulation, so the plants can dry quickly after rain to avoid contracting fungal diseases to which they are prone. Melons grow best in a light, sandy loam. If you have heavy, clay soil instead, add in a lot of organic matter to lighten it. Give the seeds or transplanted seedlings adequate water to establish deep roots. The absence of any of these elements can affect your fruit production.

About the Author

Mary Simpson began her writing career in 1968 on a Dallas oil magazine. Besides reporting and editing for several small Texas newspapers, Simpson has written for "Petroleum Engineer Magazine," "Denton Today Magazine" and put out an employee newsletter for a FEMA facility. She holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A.in English, both from the University of North Texas.